Moorhaven Village Gazette
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Moorhaven Village gazette Autumn 2007 2. Meet our Chairman 4. Board members 5. BKV result 8. Dog Show 10. Moorhaven history 12. Centre Court Ballette 14. Car alarms 15. Moorhaven web site 16. The AGM Halloween 17. Pet Blessing 18. Children’s Corner 19. Notices 22. Classifieds The colour printing in this edition of the Gazette has been generously provided by Jonathan Mathys and Andrea Peacock Meet the Chairman My name is John Meehan and I live at West Butterdon, out towards Leigh Lane. On Monday 10th September at the Annual General Meeting, I was elected Chair of the Moorhaven Management Board. This is not a position I expected to occupy when I joined the Board, figuring that the role was likely to remain safely and for some time in the hands of others more experienced. However be anything but testing, and so circumstances changed it proved. unexpectedly and here I am. I will certainly do my best to do The meeting was opened by a good job on your behalf. the retiring chairman, Peter Nathan who explained that Some families will know me he was stepping down after through my work as a part only a year in the post owing time teacher at Ugborough to health reasons. Peter could Primary School which I’ve have wished for an easier year. taken on since I retired as a The proposed redevelopment headteacher. of the Jays, the purchase I spent most of my working life of the Church field by the in London where I had three Company, and planning issues headships, but in recent years all prompted considerable I had the good fortune to work activity and correspondence. in two Devon village schools, a When such issues dominate, year in each as acting head. it’s easy to overlook the more Despite my experiences of routine work of the Board. different kinds of meetings, I Peter’s financial stewardship had no illusions that chairing has been excellent and the AGM for the first time would despite the expense of works Moorhaven Gazette Autumn 2007 www.moorhaven.org.uk to the drains and to the tv that we live in. There was boxes, he has left the budget some tension in the meeting, in good health. A good deal but there was also a warm of tree work has also been response to an eloquent plea undertaken this year: along the for us not to let any differences main drive, among the stands jeopardise our enjoyment bordering Wrangaton Road, of the very thing we value. I and along the road leading to truly hope that we can move Leigh Lane. The new board will forward in this spirit. duly be revisiting the planning Besides Peter, two other programme to make best use directors have stepped down of the development budget. this year, Claire Collinson and Peter also had to chair some Ursula Johns. Thank you all for very lively Board meetings this your commitment and your year when strong views were contributions to the work of the sometimes exchanged. Thank Board. you for your courtesy and We welcome Elayne Hoskin patience Peter. and Jane Mcguire as It was inevitable that the newcomers to the Board major issues of the year should and welcome back the dominate the AGM and that re-elected Matt Morgan. related procedures of the Other appointments will Company should also come be considered at the next under the spotlight. The Board Directors’ meeting on October has been given plenty to 1st. think about and the meeting Thank you for the good wishes highlighted issues important before and since the meeting, to us all, chief of these being and for the support during communication. it. I look forward to working There is certainly a challenge with the new Board and I’m to meet here and ideas are optimistic that we will see a already being considered to year of constructive progress. take into our next Directors’ meeting. John Meehan Although people came at it from different angles, it was Chairman clear how much everyone values this special place Moorhaven Gazette Autumn 2007 www.moorhaven.org.uk Moorhaven Management Co Board Members Chairman JOHN MEEHAN West Butterdon 897458 [email protected] Board members JIM ABRAHAM (Planning) 3 The Mews 691475 07714 103915 [email protected] ELAYNE HOSKIN Higher Lodge, Centre Court [email protected] JANE McGUIRE 10a Tower Lane [email protected] MATT MORGAN (Grounds Maintenance & Trees) 1 Moorfields 894484 [email protected] STUART NEWBERRY 2 Moorfields [email protected] PETER ROWLANDS (Gazette) 11 Church Lane 698398 [email protected] Administrator LESLEY ABRAHAM (Not a Director) 3 The Mews 896151 [email protected] Peter Rowlands would like to point out that the list of Board members is in alphabetical order and not in order of usefulness. Moorhaven Gazette Autumn 2007 www.moorhaven.org.uk Best Kept Village Competition 2007 The results of this year’s Competition were announced in August and the winner in our category (small village) was Chittlehamholt in North Devon with Bigbury runners up. Despair not though because Moorhaven scored a very creditable 88/100 and the following is the Judges handwritten report: On May 16th we spent a most Trust for engendering such a interesting and enjoyable happy sense of community day at this unique village. We amongst the residents. were happy to be given an We were interested to hear insight into the development of plans for the future, such of the village since 1998 by as the construction of a new some friendly members of the village hall / clubhouse etc. Management Trust. and the enhanced facilities It is clearly a difficult village for the thriving nursery school to judge as all other villages which already has many pupils we have previously judged including a number from in Devon have evolved adjoining villages. Another over centuries whereas, innovative idea which we Moorhaven, as a village, is gather is being investigated is scarcely a decade old. We the harnessing of the Lud Brook were remarkably impressed for hydro-electric power. We with what has been achieved noted solar panels already in that short time and we present in one place. particularly congratulate the Moorhaven Gazette Autumn 2007 www.moorhaven.org.uk The grounds with their acres original work. A few leaves of grass are undoubtedly had blown into the shelter but beautifully kept, with ongoing such are the elements! initiatives, such as the newly The car park and garages planted arboretum. Private were well in keeping with the gardens, however, are very general ambience and the personal (expect for lawn estate maintenance shed a mowing). There was a very busy working area. sympathetic feel for the setting of this village amongst the It would seem that there are moor with the attractive Lud a considerable number of Brook (we liked to original societies / fitness classes etc log bridges) amongst the going in the hall with a very woodland where children are popular summer ball in the encouraged to play and adults terraced garden. There is a to picnic. All the paths were splendid outdoor manège for well kept with their ancient horses and the golf course hedge banks and wild flowers. at Wrangaton, a popular A few small bits of litter were activity; also tennis, boules and seen and one dog mess but a football pitch (with plans with miles of paths well used for levelling) and adventure by riders, walkers, farm workers playground. But, above all, the and children this is a very great moor beckons walkers minimal error. and riders to enjoy its freedom. The bus shelter made a useful Moorhaven is indeed a information centre as well as haven of quietness with a its function as minibus stop for wise stipulation that no rowdy school children, workers, etc. machine is used on the Particularly noted were the weekends. lovely maps made by quite The allotments, as in a lot of tiny children, such genuinely villages, are generally well- Moorhaven Gazette Autumn 2007 www.moorhaven.org.uk used except for those enthusiasts whose interest wanes after the first few digs! It is a pity the church is now a residential dwelling. Perhaps there could be a small sanctuary made, especially as residents get older. We appreciate that a team of volunteers taxi people into other villages for church, shop, way of engendering a good surgery and pub. Maybe there spirit from the first, a spirit which are plans for this to change has, no doubt, prevailed. especially as car use becomes Thank you for giving us a more and more discouraged. happy visit and best wishes for We feel strongly that the implementation of your Moorhaven is an outstanding new plans. We’ll watch with example of how new interest. settlements should be made. Rosalyn Kriteman The initial sense of community, when house owners were (CPRE) responsible for setting –up their own homes, was a first class Moorhaven Gazette Autumn 2007 www.moorhaven.org.uk Dartmoor Pony Club Family Dog Show and BBQ 6th August 2007 Dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds attended along with a wide age range of handlers. The sight reminded me of weather and after two the film ‘Field of Dreams’. I months of rain, who wouldn’t think the tag line was, “Build want an evening out in the it and they will come”. Well, sunshine. With food and drink AJ, Johnny and their team of on hand and the prospect helpers had everything set up of an entertaining evening, and throngs of people and a good time was had by their dogs made their way all in a relaxed and friendly down the field in the early atmosphere.